The Rental Trap: Why NZ SMEs Are Leaving Wix and Squarespace
In New Zealand, we understand the value of Freehold property. You want to own the land, not answer to a landlord.
So why are you building your business asset on a Leasehold foundation?
For many NZ SMEs, the digital journey starts the same way. You need a website fast, so you sign up for Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify. You pick a template, drag in some photos, and hit publish.
And for the first year? It works fine. It’s pretty. It’s online.
But then, you start to grow. And suddenly, you hit The Ceiling.
You want to add a custom booking flow, but the platform says "No."
You want to improve your site speed, but you can’t access the server.
You want to move your site to a cheaper host, but you realise you can’t—because you don’t own the website. You were just renting the template.
At The I.T. Bear, we call this the "Rental Trap."
Here is why sophisticated businesses are moving away from DIY platforms and building sovereign Digital HQs.
1. Sovereignty: Freehold vs. Leasehold
When you build on a closed platform like Wix or Squarespace, you are effectively buying a Leasehold property. You are subject to their price hikes, their rules, and their limitations. If they shut down your account, your business disappears.
We build on Open Source foundations (High-Spec WordPress).
This is the digital equivalent of Freehold Property.
You own the code.
You own the data.
You can move the house.
If you ever want to leave us, you can take your entire Digital HQ with you. That is Digital Sovereignty.
2. The "Brochure" vs. The "HQ" (And the Hidden Costs)
DIY platforms promise expansion, but this is often where they make their real money—and where your business requirements get ignored.
They hook you with a cheap base rate, but the moment you try to grow, the meter starts running.
Want to send 50 automated emails a month? That’s an extra $25/month.
Want to accept recurring payments? Upgrade your plan.
Want a specific booking feature? "Sorry, the template doesn't support that."
You end up paying premium prices for a system that doesn't actually fit your workflow.
The Bear Way: We come from 20 years of high-level Operations. We don't force your unique process into a generic template. We look at your Business first. We map your workflow, identify the friction, and then design your Digital HQ around your business—not the other way around.
3. The Hidden Risk: Confusing the AI (Siri, ChatGPT, Gemini)
This is the biggest invisible cost of using a generic builder or an outdated agency.
The AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimisation) on these platforms is often generic and confusing to modern agents like Siri, ChatGPT, and Gemini.
What’s worse is when they tell the agent you offer a product instead of a service.
Example: If you are a Mechanic, a generic site structure might tell ChatGPT you sell cars instead of servicing them.
The Result: When a local user asks, "Find me a mechanic to fix my brakes," the AI ignores you because it thinks you are a car dealership.
The Damage of Time: SEO and Authority take time to build. If you start with Wix or a website company using outdated practices, you aren't just standing still—you are going backwards. It can take a year to repair the damage of bad signals and re-educate the search engines.
Don't waste 12 months building a reputation on a foundation that the AI can't read.
4. The Industry Warning: The $25,000 Mistake
I want to be fair: Wix and Squarespace have Pros.
They are cheap to start.
They are easy for non-techies.
They are great for hobbyists.
But here is the warning for business owners:
I have reviewed a lot of websites built by well-known NZ agencies—and new ones popping up every day. Some are charging $2,500 to $25,000 for a website.
Shockingly, many of them are using SEO principles from the early 2000s (or if you are lucky, 2024). They are missing the basics required to be found in 2026.
They will sell you a site that is "Pretty."
But if it can’t be found by modern AI search, it is useless.
Don't pay premium prices for outdated architecture.
Stuck in the Rental Trap?
Here are two ways The I.T. Bear can help.
But if you are a serious SME, or if you feel like you are fighting your website to make it do what you want, you have outgrown the sandbox.
Option 1: The Quick Fix (The Platform Rescue)
If your current Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify site is broken, leaking leads, or failing on mobile—but you aren't ready for a full $5,000 custom build right now—we have a lifeline. For a flat $495, we will jump into your existing site, fix the mobile errors, repair the broken forms, and patch the SEO. Bonus: If you upgrade to a custom Digital HQ later, we credit this entire $495 towards your build.
Learn about The Platform Rescue >
Option 2: The Freehold Rebuild (Digital HQ)
Ready to stop renting and start owning? Let's map out what a sovereign, high-performance Digital HQ looks like for your specific workflow. No hard sales pitch, just a look at how your systems could run better.